Richard J. Foster (1) (1942–)

Three main things readers need to know about this book:

1. Richard J. Foster is the same author who wrote "Celebration of Discipline." He's known for offering "strong meat" thoughts for "mature" Christians.

2. Though his own ancestors were Anishinaabe, in this book he's reading Lakota history along with several Christian books that mention humility, from Benedict or Nursia to Philip Yancey. The juxtaposition makes more than one strong political statement if you think about it, not only because show more it's humbling (if not humiliating) to consider some incidents in Lakota history, but because the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota people who greeted everyone by identifying themselves as a "kota" (or kola or koda) were thereby practicing a kind of humility that had nothing to do with "worm theology."

(Most of my generation have read some dreadful, exploitative, syncretistic drivel about Lakota or Dakota spirituality, probably between 1985 and 1995. I mention that sort of books because "Learning Humility" is not one of them.)

3. As explained in the text, when he was younger Foster wrote tightly structured, information-packed, long books by studying, writing, and revising fourteen hours a day. This book, written at age 80, is a personal journal consisting of short, loosely connected, blog-post-type reflections. Often he says, in a very Quakerish tone, "I'll think about this," but doesn't mention the idea or book again. A younger writer might be told that "Learning Humility" is a batch of notes toward a future book. The fruit of a well-spent writing life is that Foster has fans who will love this book just the way it is.

If you think about it, this book makes philosophical, political, and psychological statements as important as its devotional ones. show less

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. In a personal journal style, Foster walks us through the Lakota virtues following the Lakota calendar. The stories, though sometimes stream of consciousness, are sobering and thought provoking. Foster combines the broad Christian contemplative tradition on humility with stories from native and indigenous people. The U.S. treatment of the Lakota stirs one to sadness and anger. Foster’s work prompts one to act justly and long for humility. Those who show more have read Foster’s other books, especially Celebration of Discipline, will find this one more personal, self-revealing, and introspective, yet still firmly grounded in scripture. If this is a first for you, I think you will want to read others by him that instruct and inspire us in the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, service, and study. The title alone suggests Foster openly professes a degree of ignorance about the virtue of humility as he seeks to learn more about it over the course of a year, and put it into practice. His insightful, candid account is enhanced by descriptions of the Lakota Indians’ calendrical observances, with the addition of helpful anecdotes and illuminating quotes.

Because the book is based on intermittent journal jottings, each entry is relatively short and can be a bit choppy to read. Though it might be off putting for some, I think it works well here because such a method reflects the fits and starts of life itself as it unfolds, and the learning process Foster is engaging with as well.

Foster willingly admits his attempts to learn about humility and its practical application might be flawed yet he discovers numerous ways in which they are beneficial to his soul. The key takeaway from this brave attempt to walk in deeper humility is that it’s enhanced by the journey itself and what it reveals about ourselves, our lives, and our discipleship in Christ. 4.5* show less

Wow. That was...a lot of words for saying absolutely nothing at all. It's hard to tell whether this book is just the ramblings of an older man who does a lot of thinking without a lot of insight or whether he meant it to be a history of the Lakota people. He bounces back and forth quite a bit, and I would guess that by weight of words that actually make sense or mean anything, it's more a history of the Lakota people. Which is fine, but it's not what was advertised.

On humility, the only show more thing Foster seems to have to say is, "I think I should probably think about that," but for me, he doesn't provide enough information about the things he claims to be thinking about to make any meaning at all. What is most disturbing is that, in a year of seeking humility (or claiming to), there is just no way of judging from this book whether he has found anything at all. There's just not enough context to make any sense of anything.

This book was a major flop for me. Absolute emptiness. Nothing for the common reader. I suspect that those who enjoy this book have probably read other Foster works and have a feel for his voice, perhaps, but to be happy with this, you'd HAVE to be a fan of his. Otherwise, it's just a lot of noise. show less

I enjoyed this unusual approach to the subject of humility. Some reviewers seem to have been put off by the nature of the work -- a journal of the author's personal musings on, and exploration, of various facets of humility, rather than a "how-to" manual -- but I think it makes for a nice format, offering bite-sized pieces to chew on and mull over alongside Foster himself. I also liked the close connection to nature and natural beauty, and the Lakota calendar and virtues that provide show more structure to the journal were new to me; I welcomed the additional insights into humility, while I was glad that the main approach remained Christian. (I did find the longer digressions into Lakotan and Native American history, mostly towards the end of the book, to be a distraction.)

No, Foster doesn't wrap up his year of meditation with any grand conclusions or epiphanies, but that's just fine. Humility strikes me as a subject that lends itself very well to this type of quiet contemplation and consideration. show less